Directory



2 1927- c. E. COWLES DIRECTORY Filed Oct. 18. 1926 JDOE NOTE 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

CHAKLE BY INVENTOR 5 E. COM/LE5 4 ATTORNEY v 1,637,685 Aug, 2 c. E. COWLES DIRECTORY Filed Oct. 18.1926 2 Sheets-SheezZ !NVENTOR CHA LE5 ECon uss ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT orrics.

CHARLES ESRALE GOWLES, OF EL PASO, TEXAS.

DIRECTORY.

Application filed October is, 1926. Serial no. 142,404.

This invention relates to; city directories and has for its primary object the provision of means delineating a'map or chart, as for instance, the configuration and position of 5 any given portion of land, and means for eifecting an easy, accurate and quick reading of a particular portion and the geograph ical location of such portion with respect to another portion or point, or theposition of the located portion with relation to the place at which the directory is situated.

, I Another object of the invention is to provide a directory capable of functioning as aboveset forth wherein means are had for is. visually distinguishing the located portion of the map or chart from all other portions of the map, and for maintaining a clear visualizing interval for such time that will be under the direct control of the operator aatothe end that ample time for the study or reading of the map and for'making all other calculation may be made without trouble.-

A still further object of the invention is to .provide' a directory of this character which will be characterized by -ornamental furniture suitable for use in the lobby of a theatre,'hotel or other public place and be made to harmonize with its surroundings.

A still further object of-the invention is 80 to provide a directory of this type which can be employed for the functional purpose of determining and. ascertaining locations and at the same timeused to great advantage for advertising purposes.

Otherobjects of the invention areto provide a structure of this type of nea'tand attractive appearance; and which is simple 7 of construction and easy of operation; positive of action; compact and therebyadapted to be accommodated in a small space, and

one wherein the surface to be read is in clear view of theeye of the user.

The invention consists also in certain additional details of construction and advantages all of which will be fully described hlereinafter and pointed out in the appended c aim. a r

'- in the drawings forming apartof this specification, I haveillustrated one embodiment of my invention, but it will be understood that changes or modifications can be made within the scope-0f the claim.- In the drawin s, Figure lie at face viewof, the directory; F igure 2 is a vertical section .65 therethrough on line 22 of igure 1; and

Ifi gure 3 is a light circuit. a

In carrying the invention into practice, I employ a cabinet 5 which, in the present instance, is of the type adapted to rest upon diagrammatic View of the material having place designating portions 13. To the rear of the chart 12 and bearing flat-wise thereagainst is a backing or press-' ing member 14 arranged in front of a laminated' body 15 secured to the panel 8 by fastenings. 16. The member 14 is formed with openin s 17 which coincide with the respective p ace designating portions 13 of the chart and which likewise coincidewith receptacle forming openings 18 in the body 15. Mountedih these openings are a plurality. of electric lamps one of which is shown at 19 in Figure 2 and is representative of the others and a, single lamp 19 shown in this figure. As shown, each of said openings is covered at its rear by a swinging closure 20.

The body 15 and mating adjuncts find accommodation inan enclosure 21 rearwardly of the panel 8 and in order that access can be readily had to the openings 18, said enclosure-is provided with a swinging door 22.

23 designates an electric circuit wherein use is made of a metallic current distributing bar 24 and the aforementioned electric lamps 19 and 19; Any number of lamps 19 may be employed but, and in view of the endto be accomplished through use of my invention, it is only necessary to employ loo a single lamp '1'9*an'd I shall therefore refer to this as a house or station lamp while the lamps 19 shall be called.location or position designating lamps. The single lamp 19 is arranged in suchone of the openings 105 is stationed and the other of said lamps 19 110 a floor surface and for this reason, same is $50 are so distributed relatively, thatthey come behind the respective place designating or signifying portions 13 of said chart so that,

and as will appear presently, an one of said portions 13 will be illuminate simultaneously, 'or'in co-action with the process of illuminating said portion 18.

"the respective spaces 32. I

nersof the panel Sarespaces 33 adaptedspaces is one of t The lamp 19 has its wire 25 connected with the positive wire 26 of the circuit 23" and its negative wire 27 connected with the houses with which certain. of the lace or position indicating portions of the c art are adapted to correspond. Beside each of these e aforementioned switches 29. v Other of said place or position indicat; ing portions ofjthe chart "correspond with mating spaces 32, the latter ada ted to contain the names of public buildings, parks, etc. Other of the switches 29 leadin to corresponding lamps 19 are arrange beside At the upper corto contain matter of general information; Advertising'signs may also be placed upon other appropriate parts of the structure if deslred.

The manner of using the apparatus is described as follows:

It is assumed that the directory is located at a known place such as a public building, street corner or the like, and that one situated at such place desires to ascertain the directional location of "some particularplace appearing upon the chart'12,--='uch as a departm'ent store, theatre, public building, park or residence, and the istance separatortions with vertical series of spacesv 31 a apted to contain the names of business ing the placein situ with the directory. Upon glancing at the res ective s and 32, the operator on of the, place whose 'int of location upon the chart 12 it is desired to" ascertain, operates the switch 29 besides the space selected,

. which, in turn, causes the. lamps 19 and 19 to be lightedand the housev and 1ocation portions respectively uponsaid chart 12 to be illuminated. If desired, the lamp 19 can be of a distinguishing color" from the lamps 19. Upon'closing ofany one of the switches 29 a circuit will be completed to cause current from the source .of supply to fiow through conductor 26, lamp 19, dlStI lbutjing bar 24, and thence throu h the conduc-' aces 31 nding t e name tors 30and 28 leadin to an from theparticular lamp 19 formlng part of the circuit through the closed switch back to the source of current through the return conductor 23.

II claim:

A director comprising'a cabinet includ- 7 ing a frame raving rabbeted edges, a transarent anel in theframe en aging the rabeted e ges, a map of translucent material includingjthe closed switch and thence positioned behind the panel, a backing plate behind the. ma a second plate pressing.

against the bac ing plate for maintaining the map 1n flat formation, means for securing the second plate to the frame, said back- I ing platehaving openings therein at points to be designated on the map, said second plate having 0 enings therethrough registering with t e first openings, lamps mounted in the openings of the second plate and adapted to be selectively illuminated so as to illuminate that portion of the map in front of, the corresponding opening in the backing plate, doors closing the openings in the second plate, said cabinet including side members, and top and bottom members secured to the frame and surrounding said plates and a door mounted on one of the members and closing the back of the cabinet and permittin access when opened to the first mentione doors on the second plate.

. CHARLES ESRALE GOWLES. 

